Climate change: State of knowledge
Burning coal, oil and natural gas to heat our homes, power our cars, and illuminate our cities produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases as by-products. Deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture also release significant quantities of such gases. Records of past climate going as far back as 160,000 years indicate a close correlation between the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and global temperatures. Computer simulations of the climate indicate that global temperatures will rise as atmospheric concentrations of CO2 increase. As the risks of global climate change become increasingly apparent, there is a genuine need to focus on actions to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the adverse impacts of a changing climate.
- Research Organization:
- World Health Organization/United Nations Environment Programme. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- OSTI ID:
- 565433
- Report Number(s):
- PB-98-112725/XAB; TRN: 80201880
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: Color illustrations reproduced in black and white; PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
From global to regional climate change: Relative knowns and unknowns about global warming
Prospects for future climate change and the reasons for early action